REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER
4.1.
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
Chapter
Four
SECTION
THREE
THE
THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER
Introduction
Chapter 4 begins
the third major division of the book of Revelation. As the Apostle John
was told to write things down, there is a dramatic shift from the present to the
future. It appears as if in the twinkling
of an eye the scenery changes from Earth to Heaven. The visions John
experiences reach far beyond the thoughts of the imagination.
Jesus wants everyone
to enter His Kingdom. He will reveal what happens to Satan and those who
refuse. The subject of the church will no longer be discussed until Chapter 19.
During this
introductory study of the Things Which
Shall Be, additional subject matter on God's timeline is introduced not
only to procure a better understanding but also as a thought-provoking experience.
Although we will be charting into the unknown, remember this:
1. God's plan is
absolute
2. God is imparting
His truths to mankind
3. God blesses
those who read, hear, and study Revelation
4. It is a
revelatory message from Jesus, not hidden
5. It surpasses
human thought and reason
6. It is prophetic
and biblical
7. It is to bring
us to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 4:11 - Let us labour, therefore, to
enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief.
A General Overview
NOTE: This study
of Revelation, although simplified and abridged, adheres to the basic
principles of hermeneutics (biblical interpretation) grammatically, historically,
and accurately as possible; lending to the meaning of the text as God intended.
Apocalyptic Literature
The word apocalypse is a Greek word meaning revelation, to unveil, uncover,
or disclose things not previously known, and which could not be known apart
from God. He supernaturally reveals it to man. Although the Bible consists of
many prophetic passages in the Old and New Testaments (e.g., Daniel, Ezekiel,
and the words of Christ, etc.), Revelation is considered apocalyptic literature,
a unique book because it requires rules of interpretation, and exegesis based
on its passages of future events.
Now, imagine John, during the
first century trying to describe future events in world history, especially
those of today, and of events that have not happened. How would he explain
modern constantly changing technology or instruments of war? There are, however,
many instances where the Bible interprets itself, as is especially seen in
Revelation 1.
Throughout history, many
divergent interpretative approaches to the book of Revelation have developed,
leaving a pathway for liberal interpretation and theology.
The following perspectives
are identified:
A. Allegorical – All events are an allegory, a continuous struggle
between good and evil.
B. Preterist – While somewhat symbolic, biblical events have
already transpired – not prophetic and have no meaning for today.
C. Historical – Fulfillment is a literal continuation
of the history of the Church by allegorizing and identifying the text as it
depicts. It is also not prophetic.
D. Futuristic – The approach of
this study is explained in the footnote above. All prophecies from Chapter 4 to
the end of Revelation are yet to be fulfilled.
God and Eternity
God always was,
always is, and always will be. Eternity is likewise infinite. Eternity has no
beginning or end. With the creation of heaven and earth and man, eternity
became divided by time into two sections:
(1) Eternity past, and (2) Eternity future.
Time
In the wedge
called the time between eternity,
there are two major divisions: (1) Before the Cross and, (2) After the Cross.
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the dividing line between both Old and New
Testament economies. Mankind, from the fall of man, looked forward to the Cross
(cf. Genesis 3:15) to be redeemed (reconciled with God).
After Christ's
redemptive and finished work through His death, burial, and Resurrection, individuals
look back to the Cross for reconciliation with God. As believers, the focus is a return
to eternal life similar to Eden (the New
Heaven and Earth) - a lifetime of eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal
life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Creation
Secularists
would have you believe a theory as
absolute truth that man evolved into human beings from a single-cell
amoeba. Evolution is not a science – It is a theory - First published November
24, 1859. [cf. Darwin,
Charles, and Gillian Beer. The Origin of Species. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1996.].
Factually, the
three basic principles of science are as
such:
1. Science must
deal with things – called matter
2. Science must
deal with happenings – called energy
3. Science must
deal with the matrix in which things happen – called space-time
Science explains
that one of those three ingredients cannot exist without the other. Therefore,
the universe must be a continuum of space-time, energy, and matter; and existed
from the beginning of life. It is remarkable to observe Genesis 1:1 has all
three elements:
1. In the beginning
– space-time
2. God created –
energy
3. The heavens and
the earth – matter
Hence, the very
first verse of the Bible includes all three basic dimensions of science
simultaneously.
Jesus said to
Nicodemus:
John 3:12 - If I have told you
earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Heavens
Heaven is not
merely a state but a place. In the Hebrew language the word heaven is plural, however
frequently translated in the singular. Hebrew: οὐρανός ouranos
[Strong's G3772],
a rise as in elevation, skyward. The Hebrews had a three-story
conception of heaven:
1. The First Heaven
– Home of the air, clouds, and birds of the air, i.e., the atmospheric heaven
2. The Second
Heaven – Home of outer space, the sun, moon, planets, stars, and galaxies
3. The Third Heaven
– Sometimes alluded to as Paradise, the very abode, Throne, and headquarters of
God, where angels are located. In our finite language, the best we can
ascertain, it exists in a spiritual realm or different dimension. It is an
infinity with no concept of time
Whether Paul had
a vision or a revelation, he was permitted not to write it down:
2 Corinthians 12:4 - How that he (in a vision Paul) was
caught up into Paradise, and heard
unspeakable words (incapable of utterance),
which it is not lawful for a man to utter (speak).
History
There are
varying ways to divide the Bible, the following is a good simple method to remember:
1. From Adam to
Abraham – the History of the human race
2. From Abraham to
Christ – the history of the chosen race
3. From Christ forward
– the history of the Church and end times
Order
God is a God of
order.
1
Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not the author
of confusion (disorder), but of peace,
as in all churches of the saints.
Seven
Dispensations
There are also
seven major periods called dispensations on God's calendar that logically determine
the agency of God's rule of the general state of order of humanity [dates
are approximate].
1. The Age of Innocence - This period
encompasses the time between the creation of heaven and earth to the fall of
man – i.e., Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 3:7 (approximately 33 ½ years).
a. Adam was the first ruler, and God gave
to him dominion over all the earth
Hebrews 2:7-8a - Thou madest him
(man) a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with
glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under
his feet.
b. The earth was void of sin
c. God spoke directly to man
2. The Age of Conscience - 1600 years of moral
responsibility extending from the fall of man (Cf. Genesis 3:6b) to Noah (cf. Genesis
6:8).
a. Man was separated from God
b. Conscience made judgments on decisions
c. The human heart reacted to the voice of
God
3. The Age of Human Government – 437 years from
Noah (cf. Genesis 6:8-9) to Abraham (cf. Genesis 11:26-12:1). During this Age,
God allowed man to organize human governmental systems.
a. The result: In an attempt to reverse
the curse, mankind decided to have a one-world government at the Tower of Babel
(cf. Genesis 10) until God scattered the people and confounded their language.
4. The Age of Promise – The Abrahamic
Covenant begins another 430 years (cf. Genesis 12). During this era, until the time
of Moses, God arbitrated through the Patriarchs.
5. The Age of Law – This epoch of
faith and obedience to the written Law lasted 1500 years until Jesus Christ
(the second Adam), and by His death on the Cross, the Law was abolished.
a. Judges, Kings, and Prophets were the
instruments of God whereby His rule was mediated on earth
b. The advent of Christ's First Coming
(incarnation)
c. The purpose: Christ came to usher in
the Kingdom; however, He was rejected, and the Kingdom was postponed
6. The
Age of Grace - The Church Age is a parenthetical 2000-year era not seen by
the Old Testament Prophets beginning in Acts Chapter 2 at Pentecost.
a. All things written in the Law, Psalms,
and Prophets were fulfilled in Jesus Christ
b. Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus
Christ whereby sins are forgiven
c.
Includes both Jews and Gentiles
7.
The Messianic
Kingdom Age [The Millennium] – A 1000-year reign and rule of Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords and
King of Kings, with the saints.
Addendum
Material
Below is a brief
synopsis of each event. For an in-depth understanding, further study is
advised.
·
From the birth of Jesus Christ to His death is
approximately 33 ½ years.
·
There is no 0 A.D. – After 1 B.C. (Before Christ)
is A.D. 1. (Anno Domini [Medieval Latin], in the year of the Lord).
·
The Hebrew reckoning of time flows according to
the lunar calendar (Jewish calendar – 1 year is 360 days). On March 7, 321 A.D., Roman Emperor
Constantine changed the numbering according to the solar calendar (the
Gregorian calendar – 1 year is 365.242 days).
·
Jesus remained on the Cross for 6 hours. According
to the Jewish reckoning of time, it was from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Roman calculation of
time began at 6 A.M. Darkness over the earth lasted hours.
·
There were 3 days between Christ's death and Resurrection.
·
The traditional date Christ expired is April 3,
A.D. 33.
·
There were 40 days (cf. Acts 1:3) between His Resurrection
and Ascension.
·
There were 120 days from Christ's death to
Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:15).
·
The Church Age is represented by 7 periods of
Church history as found in the 7 letters to the 7 churches [still in
progression].
·
There is a 7-year time period labeled the Great Tribulation Period or Seventy Weeks of Daniel [literally, 70
units of 7 years totaling 490 years (cf. Daniel 9:24-25)] between the catching up [called the Rapture] of the
Church until the Millennium.
·
During the Millennium, a space of ½ hour's silence
occurs after the seventh seal and before the blowing of the first trumpet
judgment (cf. Revelation 8:1-7).
·
After the Millennium, an undetermined amount of
time will take place for the Great White Throne Judgment and before the new
heavens and earth.
In the following
study, part two of the introductions to section three, The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter, Chapters 4 through 22 will be outlined
along with an explanation of the Rapture,
and varying positions on the Great
Tribulation Period.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is Revelation unique to the Bible?
2. What literary approach should be taken to
Revelation?
3. How do we understand creation?
4. Read how Jesus entered humanity in Philippians
2:5b-11.
5. God is not the author of ___________.
6. Explain the three heavens?
7. According to the creation account, what does the Millennium
represent?
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to others.
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